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EAST LANSING — The Prima Civitas Foundation, through its C.S. Mott Foundation-supported entrepreneurship initiative Moving Ideas to Market, has launched its fourth annual Young Innovators Competition. The competition encourages Michigan youth to submit ideas, concepts, or business plans to improve their communities.

Applicants are eligible to win cash prizes totaling $10,000, including a grand prize amount of $2,500.

This year’s competition expands on its previous written business plan requirements by allowing youth to submit their plans or ideas in the creative format of their choosing. This includes videos, podcasts, songs, etc. Also new to this year’s competition is the ability for youth clubs or groups to compete.

The competition includes two age divisions. Students in grades 9-12 may submit ideas for one of three categories: New-or improved-product or service, new social solution, or new mobile app. Students in grades 6-8 may compete in an entrepreneurial essay contest. Submissions will be judged by a variety of entrepreneurial and economic experts.

In addition to cash prizes, winners will also have the opportunity to connect with community mentors and entrepreneurial resources to take their ideas to the next level.

“We believe this competition will help encourage students to think of entrepreneurship more broadly-and to find new, exciting, and creative ways to use innovative thinking to improve their surrounding communities,” notes Steve Webster, Chief Executive Officer for the Prima Civitas Foundation.

Submissions are due by midnight, November 18, 2012. Competition results will be announced in December.

To learn more about the competition, including prizes, guidelines, and submission information, please visit http://bit.ly/NmsT5r or Movingideastomarket.org.

The Prima Civitas Foundation exists to serve all residents of Michigan in creating a new, prosperous, and sustainable economic future for our great state. As an economic driver committed to transforming the way we do business, PCF is a center for innovation in the 21st century economy that will define Michigan’s future. PCF is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. More at www.primacivitas.org.

Moving Ideas to Market (MI2M) is a Prima Civitas Foundation Initiative that is dedicated to entrepreneurial culture change in Michigan. MI2M is primarily funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation and is supported by a dynamic network of statewide partners. More at www.movingideastomarket.org.